Mindful Eating: 10 Ways To Eat Mindfully During The Holidays

Do you get overwhelmed and irritated by all the dieting articles during the holidays? Most people do. This year, try a different approach. Mindful eating doesn't tell you what to eat and what not to eat. Instead, it is about eating the foods you enjoy in a new way. So don't worry. This article isn't going to tell you to avoid the mashed potatoes and skip the gravy.

Consider a few very basic mindful eating tips to help you eat more mindfully this holiday.

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Best wishes on the holidays! Eat, drink and be mindful

[1] Robinson, E.L.; Higgs, S. "Memory and food: Leaving the best till last." Appetite vol. 57 issue 2 October, 2011. p. 538.

[2] Steptoe, Andrew, et al. "The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: a randomised double-blind trial." Psychopharmacology, Volume 190, issue 1 (January 2007), p. 81 - 89.

Join my twitter: @eatingmindfully

See Dr. Susan Albers' new book, But I Deserve This Chocolate: the 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. She is a psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic and author of five books on mindful eating including 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food and Eating Mindfully. Her books have been noted in O, the Oprah magazine, Shape, Prevention, Health etc. and seen on the Dr. Oz TV show.

www.eatingmindfully.com

 

 

 

Follow Dr. Susan Albers on Twitter: www.twitter.com/eatingmindfully

Comments

[FSMbaby]

07:30 AM on 12/19/2011

Great tips! Mindless eating has always been my biggest nutritional problem. I always thought I just loved food but I don't think I respect it if I barely notice it. I eat when I'm watching TV at night and don't even taste it half the time. My New Year's resolution is to be mindful and really enjoy my food, because dieting sucks!

[fnygy]

09:56 AM on 12/13/2011

Sugar free candy is full of chemicals and artificial sweeteners keep people craving sweets. Not a good choice. Try deep breathing instead. 5 to 10 deep, rhythmic breaths will help you center yourself. You'll be better able to assess the craving and respond to it.

[babybelle]

12:05 PM on 12/12/2011

I stay mindful of what I eat during the holidays knowing that if I pig out I won't have any clothes that fit.
Doesn't mean I don't have a few treats, but I don't go overboard.

[quiscut]

12:05 PM on 12/12/2011

For many people those they loved are gone. Friends are busy with their own families . The gift thing was worn out decades ago so what is left of celebrating the season? Food and\or drink. My dad was in that situation for many years. All he had to enjoy was the food we sent to him. (he wouldn't travel to us and he had no desire to entertain after my mom's death.) We would order a Turkey breast stuffed and roasted , from a gourmet restaurant near his home.They provided everything that made the meal a traditional Christmas meal like we used to a have. It was enough food to last through Christmas week. It made him feel less alone to have familiar foods available to him. We never regretted arranging or paying for the Christmas meals for our dad. It was our way of showing him him how much he was loved.

[Bridget Guzzi]

10:43 AM on 12/12/2011

In my garden. Broccoli, spinach, beets, lettuce, choy, peas, onion, carrots and herbs. I am so lucky to live in a year round garden friendly area. Growing your own helps! For those who are snowed in you can start a fennel plant indoors. Pop the seeds in your mouth when you get an urge for something high calorie and the desire for the high calorie food will go away. There are also a lot of beneficials in the seed. You can also purchase this from an organic source. Children should limit the amount they eat.

[rflctammt]

10:09 AM on 12/12/2011

Great suggestions, thank you!

For Thanksgiving this year, I volunteered to have a "Thanksgiving Eve" Chile Dinner for our 4 adult children and their families. No stress, no prep, just bring the kids and come; our focus was on gratitude - not stuffing ourselves. That way they (and we) could spend the next day with "other" families and not be pulled in two or three directions.

It was the best decision I've made in years. The entire clan (25 of us) were there, free from guilt or scheduling issues. My two pots of chile (white chicken and spicy buffalo) with cornbread were cleared out and we had a wonderful time taking the kids down memory lane. After pie and coffee, bowls were rinsed, mugs were stacked, hugs were shared and everyone went home - not FAT but happy!

[annyperl]

04:54 AM on 12/12/2011

Great article! Thanks a lot! I will do my best to follow these recommendations)

[ligligl]

02:15 AM on 12/12/2011

I will watch what I eat. I will watch every single bite. Then I will take a nap...

[stjoshy]

04:21 PM on 12/11/2011

i clicked cuz i see cookie! OMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!!!

[madcityy]

03:08 PM on 12/11/2011

EAT ALL U WANT,,,,,,,,,,,,NONE OF US GETS OUT ALIVE................BUT USE UR HEAD